Tate's Hell State Forest offers primitive camping sites scattered across its vast terrain near Apalachicola National Forest. The forest spans over 202,000 acres with campsites positioned along creeks and waterways, creating secluded outdoor experiences in the Florida Panhandle. Sites at High Bluff Primitive Campsites are separated by considerable distances, providing privacy while giving campers direct access to waterfront locations for fishing and wildlife observation.
What to do
Fishing at waterfront sites: At Lake Talquin State Forest High Bluff Campground, visitors can access dedicated fishing spots with wildlife viewing opportunities. According to Tucker B., "Caught a beautiful sunset over the lake and saw a massive gator hanging out by the fishing pier," showcasing the dual experience of fishing and wildlife observation.
Hiking challenging trails: The trail system at Torreya State Park Campground includes strenuous routes with significant elevation changes. Issa F. notes, "There's a hiking loop called the Great Challenge. It's so difficult, meandering up and down in elevation for 9 miles, that you may give up," making it an unusual Florida hiking experience.
Beach activities: Coastal access near these glamping options provides opportunities for water recreation. At Indian Pass Campground, Nicole C. shares that "The beach is just a few steps away," while mentioning the campground has "Lots of regular campers that seem to know each other, all very friendly and chatty."
What campers like
Secluded waterfront locations: The High Bluff Primitive sites at Tate's Hell State Forest provide rare isolation. Laura M. explains, "There are 3 separate High Bluff Primitive campsites, one at Dry Bridge, one at Rake Creek and one at Pidcock Road. Each spot is so far away from each other that you feel completely secluded."
Unique wildlife interactions: Campers specifically enjoy the wildlife viewing opportunities. At Goat House Farm, Abby shares, "We had such a fun time camping at the goat farm. Where you literally camp with goats. The male goats hang out right beside you and your tents."
Waterfront views: The lakeside settings earn high praise from visitors to Seminole State Park Campground. Elisha L. describes, "The waterfront sites are pullthroughs on a halfmoon loop. The sites are level gravel pads with a walkway that leads to a raised gravel sitting area for each site. The sitting area has a firepit and a picnic table."
What you should know
Access challenges: Many campsites require careful navigation on unpaved roads. For Tate's Hell, Laura M. advises, "Road in was bumpy with some huge pits but easily navigable even in our 26ft class c, just watch the road and take it slow."
Variable site conditions: Some primitive sites may have maintenance issues or previous camper impacts. At High Bluff, Lisa S. noted, "Too bad that thoughtless, idiot campers left fair amount of used toilet paper and empty cans and bottles a few feet away from the picnic table."
Weather impacts: The T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park Campground has undergone significant changes due to storm damage. Colin R. observed, "Florida State Parks did a great job redoing this campground after Hurricane Michael in 2018. Brand new facilities, excellent camping pads, and good beach access. You can still see some of the hurricane damage."
Tips for camping with families
Farm camping opportunities: For families seeking glamping near Apalachicola National Forest with unique animal interactions, Goat House Farm provides memorable experiences. Abby notes, "The kids absolutely loved it. They cried when it was time to leave and told all the animals bye."
Beach-accessible options: Coastal campsites offer family-friendly water access. At Indian Pass Campground, September H. shares, "It's a bit crowded but there's plenty of opportunity to stretch your legs being that it's steps away from the beach. They are also extremely dog friendly which is a huge plus for us because our pup loves to swim."
Security considerations: Some remote sites may experience unwanted visitors. At Tate's Hell, Zach L. cautions, "At midnight on our second night at 50 Rake Creek, two separate vehicles raced right past our tent and parked down by the water access. When told that it was a reserved private campsite that I paid for, they became aggressive and argued that it was not private."
Tips from RVers
Site specifications: At Three Rivers State Park Campground, RVers find accommodations with necessary hookups. L&A C. describes, "Small, well maintained park and sites, with 30/50 amp and water hook ups. A pleasant surprise when we arrived, after miles of rural driving!"
Navigation advice: GPS directions to remote locations can be problematic. For Tate's Hell, Laura M. suggests, "We followed the step by step directions that were in the confirmation email and not google maps' directions and we had no problems."
Connectivity information: For those needing to stay connected, cell service varies widely. Ray & Terri F. report that "AT&T coverage was pretty dismal, with 1 bar of 5GE service and speeds only up to 0.9 MB/s. The CG has a lot of trees, but the pines only have top foliage, so access and coverage for DISH and Starlink was really good."
